Switch and signal interlocking apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

J. T. HAMBAY.

SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOGKING APPARATUS.

No. 406,212. Patented July 2., 1889.

FIG-.6.

Q M41"??? rm m m lg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. HAMBAY, OF \VILKINSBURG, ASSIGNOR TO THE. UNION SXVITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANI-Af SWITCH AND SIGNAL INTERLOCKING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,212, dated July 2, 1889.

Application filed February 21, 1889. Serial No. 300,704. (NomodeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. HAMBAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at WVilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Switch and Signal Interlocking Apparatus, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in interlocking mechanism for switclrand signal operatinglevers, and has for its object a construction and arrangement of mechanical devices or elements I 5 capable of use alone or of application to machines embodying any of the well-known systems of interlocking mechanism, of which the Saxby and Farmer or the Stevens systems are types, for the purpose of providing such ma- 2o chines with special locks without altering or in any way interfering with the usual locks or lever movements.

111 the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are plan views of my improved locking mechanism adapted to a three-lever machine, illustrating the mechanism in different operative positions. Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views showing the invention applied to a machine having five or more levers. Fig. 6 is a plan view showing a modification of the lock. Figs.

7 and 8 are sectional views on the lines as 00 and y y, respectively, of Fig. 3; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view on the line .2 a, Fig. 5.

In the practice of my invention the locking-bars 1, &c., are arranged as in a Saxby and Farmer or Stevens machine, and are adapted to be shifted longitudinally by rockin g quadrants operated by levers in the usual 0 manner, the bars being provided with eyes at one end for connection through suitable interposed mechanism to the quadrants, or they may be connected thereto in any other suitable manner. To the bracket of the machine in which the bars are mounted are secured one or more frames 3, dependent upon the number of levers in the machine and of locking combinations required. Each frame 3 is provided with transverse slots 4, as shown in Figs. 7 and 9, for the reception of the bars 1, &c., and in the upper side of the frame is formed a guide-groove 5, in which the locking-blocks 6 6, &c., are mounted, said blocks being free to move transversely over the bars and held from displacement by the cap-plate 7. On the upper edges of two or more of the bars 1 1, &c., in a combination, are secured the plates or dogs 8, preferably of a thickness corresponding to that of the blocks, and on one or more of other bars 1, 650., included in or forming part of the same combination, is adj ustably secured a collar 9, provided with a pivot-pin 10, having one end of a finger 11 loosely mounted thereon. The dogs and fingers are so located on the bars that when the latter are shifted through the medium of the rocking quadrant the dogs and fingers will be moved across the line of movement of the blocks 6, so as byengagement therewithto shift them as required,the ends of the blocks, dogs, and fingers being beveled for that purpose, as shown.

A simple form of lock or combination is shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the bars and blocks being shown in normal position in Fig. 1, all the bars being unlocked and free to move.

If now the bar 1 be reversed, as shown in Fig. 2, the finger 11 will be pushed between the blocks 6 and 6; but as the finger is free to swing, the walls of the groove 5 being cut 8c away, as shown at 12, to permit of such movement of the fingers, it is evident that no looking was effected by the movement of the bar 1", and that eitherbar 1 or 1 can be reversed.

In Fig. 3 the bar 1 is shown reversed, thereby, through the medium of the dog 8, shifting the block 6, and through the medium of the finger 11 the block 6, thereby locking the bar 1 in a normal position, as shown in Fig. 3.

If the bar 1 had been reversed in lieu of the bar 1, the latter would have been locked in normal position. It is not necessary that the bar 1" should be shifted first, as the same result would be produced if the bar 1 were first shifted and then the bar 1 reversed, as in 5 the latter case the finger 11 would push the block 6 into the path of movement of the dog 8, the block 6 being held by the dog 8 serving as abutment for the finger.

It will be readily understood that the bar 1 I00 can be locked normal by rey'ersing both bars 1 and 1, thereby shifting the blocks 6 and 6 so close together as to prevent the passage of the finger 11 between them. If, in any instance, it should be desired to lock the bar 1 when reversed, a V-shaped notch 13, as shown in Fig. 6, can be cut at such point in one edge of the finger 11 as to be in line with the cor- Iespondingly-shaped end of the block 6 when the bar 1 is reversed, so that by reversing the bars 1 and 1 the block 6 is caused to enter the notch 13, thus locking the bar l reversed.

In Figs. 4 and 5, I have shown my invention as embodied in a larger and more complicated machine. The relative co-operat-ion of the several parts, however, is the same as that hereinbefore describedas, for example, when the locking-bars are in the position shown in Fig. 4c, a reversal of the bars 1 and 1 will lock the bar 1 at normal, or a reversal of the bars 1 and 1 will lock the bar 1 at normal, it being understood that in both cases the bars 1 and 1 are reversed; but either of said bars can be locked normal by reversing the bar 1 and the bars 1 or 1.

In Fig. 5 I have shown substantially the same arrangement as in Fig. 4c, and in addition thereto I have shown how two bars, as 1 and 1 separated from each other by two or more bars, can be included in the same combination-41. e., by means of a rod 14, secured to or formed integral with the blocks (3 and 6, said rod being so shaped where it passes over the intervening rods 1, 1, and 1 as not to engage therewith, as shown in Fig. 9.

It will be observed that the locking-blocks 6 6, &c., and their actuating dogs and fingers are arranged above the locking-bars 1 l, &c., and that therefore this construction of interlocking mechanism can be employed in connection with any of the well-known types of interlocking mechanism-as, for example, the Saxby and Farmer interlocking, wherein the dogs and flops are arranged below the locking-bars, or the Stevens interlocking, wherein the locking-blocks are arranged between the locking-bars. Hence, while my improved interlocking mechanism is adapted to be used alone, it is peculiarly adapted for use in providing special locks in connection with either the Saxby and Farmer or Stevens system of interlocking.

I claim herein as my invention- 1. In an interlocking mechanism, the combination of a series of three or more longitudinally-movable locking-bars, dogs secured to two or more of said bars, a finger or fingers pivotally attached to one or more of said bars, and a series of two or more movable lockingblocks, substantially as set forth.

2. In an interlocking mechanism, a frame having a series of two or more transverse slots and a groove formed at an angle to the slots, a series of three or more longitudinally-mov able locking-bars arranged in said slots, dogs secured to two or more of said bars, a finger or fingers pivotally attached to one or more of said bars, and a series of two or more movable locking-blocks arranged in the groove of the frame, substantially as set forth.

3. In an interlocking mechanism,the combination of a series of three or more longitudinally-movable locking-bars, dogs secured to two or more of said bars, a notched finger or fingers pivotally attached to one or more of said bars, and a series of two or more movable locking-blocks, substantially as set forth.

4. In an interlocking mechanism, the combination of a series of three or more longitudinally-movable locking-bars, dogs secured to two or more of said bars, a finger or fingers pivotally attached to one or more of said bars, and a series of two or more independentlymovable locking-blocks, substantially as set forth.

5. In combination with any of the known systems of interlocking, dogs secured to two or more of the locking-bars thereof, a finger or fingers pivotally attached to one or more of said locking-bars, and a series of two or more movable blocks, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAMES T. HAMBAY.

lVitnesses:

DARWIN S. WoLco'rT, XV. B. CoRwIN. 

